Jeff Brand

Jeff Brand is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023, who also served from 2019 to 2020. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Brand represents District 18A in south-central Minnesota, which includes the cities of St. Peter and North Mankato, Nicollet County, and parts of Blue Earth and Le Sueur Counties.[1][2]

Jeff Brand
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 18A district
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 5, 2021
Preceded byClark Johnson
Succeeded bySusan Akland
In office
January 3, 2023 – Present
Preceded bySusan Akland
Constituency18A (2023-present)
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseGenevieve
Children2
Residence(s)St. Peter, Minnesota, U.S.
EducationVermilion Community College
Minnesota State University, Mankato (BS)
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Early life, education, and career

Brand was raised on a dairy farm in Howard Lake, Minnesota. He graduated from the Parks Law Enforcement Academy with a certificate, from Vermilion Community College, and from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a Bachelor of Science in anthropology.[1]

Brand served as a member of the St. Peter City Council from 2011 to 2018, and was president of the Mankato Area Environmentalists. He is an insurance agent and co-owns a rain garden installation and native plant landscaping company, Seed to Site, with his wife, Genevieve.[1][3][4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Brand was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018. He first ran after three-term DFL incumbent Clark Johnson announced he would not seek reelection. In 2020, Brand lost reelection to Republican Susan Akland. He ran against Akland again in 2022 and won.[1] During the 2020 election, Brand was endorsed by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA), who later pulled the endorsement after a protest outside Minneapolis Police Federation President Bob Kroll's home, which Brand did not attend.[6]

Brand is the vice chair of the Workforce Development Finance and Policy Committee and sits on the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy, Taxes, and Transportation Finance and Policy Committees. From 2019 to 2020, Brand served as vice chair of the Agriculture and Food Finance and Policy Committee.[1]

Brand has advocated for increased investments in local government and county program aid.[7][8] He introduced legislation to give homeowners incentives to upgrade water softeners and reduce chloride in water.[9] He supported legislation to boost funding for research on alternative crops such as kernza, and wrote a bill increasing funding for grain bin safety and farmer education.[10][11]

Brand is the lead author of legislation that would eliminate non-essential PFAS chemicals from products for children, cookware, ski wax, carpet, cosmetics and more.[12][13][14] The legislation has been supported by environmental groups and opposed by chemical corporation lobbyists.[15] He also authored legislation that would allow Minnesotans exposed to harmful chemicals to sue companies for the cost of monitoring their health.[16]

Electoral history
2018 Minnesota State House - District 19A[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Jeff Brand 10,274 54.34
Republican Kim Spears 8,603 45.50
Write-in 30 0.16
Total votes 18,907 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 19A[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Akland 11,624 50.15
Democratic (DFL) Jeff Brand (incumbent) 11,516 49.68
Write-in 40 0.17
Total votes 23,180 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic (DFL)
2022 Minnesota State House - District 18A[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Jeff Brand 9,530 51.04
Republican Susan Akland (incumbent) 9,119 48.84
Write-in 23 0.12
Total votes 18,672 100.0
Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican

Personal life

Brand and his wife, Genevieve, have two children. He resides in St. Peter, Minnesota.[1]

References
  1. "Brand, Jeff - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  2. "Rep. Jeff Brand (18A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  3. Eischens, Rilyn (2020-09-24). "50 Minnesota state and federal races to watch in the 2020 election". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  4. Friedrich, Alex (September 23, 2010). "Eco groups still want Himle's head". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  5. Mewes, Trey (October 26, 2018). "Longtime GOP opponent and 1st-time DFL candidate try to replace Johnson in 19A". The Free Press. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  6. Van Oot, Torey (September 11, 2020). "Police group pulls endorsements of several DFL incumbents". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  7. Brand, Jeff (November 19, 2019). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Counterpoint: The real story of Minnesota's parts is that of a greater whole". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  8. Bakst, Brian (November 17, 2022). "Local governments look for more state aid". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  9. Bjorhus, Jennifer (February 24, 2020). "Minnesota pollution regulators target salt-thirsty water softeners". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  10. Dunbar, Elizabeth (March 7, 2019). "Lawmakers push funding boost for U of M research on alternative crops". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  11. The Associated Press (February 25, 2020). "'Momma on a mission' backs Walz's call for farm safety money". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  12. KARNOWSKI, STEVE (March 23, 2023). "Minnesota officials plug fight against 'forever chemicals'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  13. Marohn, Kristi (January 24, 2023). "DFL lawmakers push to restrict use of 'forever chemicals'". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  14. Roth, Madison (2023-03-16). "A look at the four Minnesota bills proposing regulations on PFAS chemicals". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  15. Winter, Deena (2023-03-01). "Bills regulating toxic chemicals attract high-priced lobbyists". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  16. Winter, Deena (2023-03-20). "Bill would allow people to seek medical monitoring due to chemical exposure". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  17. "2018 Results for State Representative District 19A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  18. "2020 Results for State Representative District 19A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  19. "2022 Results for State Representative District 18A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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